After watching the NA dub of the Queen Beryl battle (yes, I am
only a poor DIC subject who has not had the privilege to watch any
fan-subs or fan-dubs) I decided to write this little story. I know
what happened, the truth that the wimps at DIC thought was too grue-
some for our squeamish little stomachs. As a result, the story does
contain violence that is implied and death that actually occurred.
Getting off that subject, this story is much, much shorter than
my other epic plots. (Picture me setting fire to piles of manu-
scripts.) Iím supposed to be working on the other five stories in
progress, but sometimes you simply have to get an idea out of your
head before it takes over your brain a la The Exorcist.
This story is entirely composed of POV shifts. At times, it can
get dizzying. And oh yes I wonít tell you who is who in
the shifts. Youíll just have to guess, although some of them (make
that most of them) are rather obvious.
I just have to say thanks to the wonderful poet Thomas Stearns
Eliot for being my inspiration, my Muse, and my reference book for
quotations. You can always find something good in his writing!
As always, standard disclaimers apply. You know what Iím talk-
ing about. Yes, Iím talking to you. Sailor Moon and all related
items belong to the people that own them. Donít let the lawyers get
all the moneyóavoid a lawsuit or twenty.
I like e-mail (to a reasonable point and of a reasonable na-
ture), so please write to me at my comfortable little Internet niche
gramarye@rochester.rr.com.
What the Thunder Said
By: Gramarye
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He who was living is now dead
We who were living are now dying
With a little patience
--T. S. Eliot ďThe Waste LandĒ - Part V. What the Thunder Said
ďHouston, we have a problem.Ē
-- Apollo 13
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Something is seriously not right. I can feel it deep inside and
the panic is starting to set in. I keep thinking, it shouldnít be
this way. Most of the time, I have confidence in myself and in my
friends.
This time is different.
I hate feeling like thisóhelpless, like a target. I donít like
being vulnerable...itís completely against my nature.
I hope weíre ready for this.
Watch out, Queen Beryl.
Weíre coming to get you.
Wait. Thatís not entirely true.
Iím coming to get you.
Oh gods oh gods oh gods oh gods oh gods.
Iím so scared.
Iíve never been this afraid in my life.
All of the other battles Iíve even been in are nothing compared
to this one. Weíre finally getting the chance to go face to face with
the head of the Dark Kingdom, the Queen herself. Weíre going to win
this time. Weíre going to beat her, finally beat her. Itís the op-
portunity of a lifetimeóin our case, of a couple lifetimes.
So why am I absolutely terrified?
Donít let your fear show. Donít let your pain show. Donít be
weak. Donít betray your emotions, or they will be your downfall.
Itís just so hard to do this when adrenaline overload is turning
your knees to gelatin.
Stop it! Snap out of it! Youíve got to be strong.
Theyíre using me as a tester, I can tell. Watching me. Waiting
for me to show some sign of strain, a fear that will overflow and
break me like a dry twig.
If I break, theyíll break.
Especially her.
Her emotions are so easy to set off. Sheíll have mood swings
that are so extreme that you canít really tell what she really feels
inside.
To tell the truth, I donít think any of us knows her as well as
we think.
Just like they donít know me.
Uh oh. Thereís something or someone coming toward us.
I hate this cold.
We have to take them out together, not hand to hand in mortal
comó
Damn that Jupiter! There she goes, rushing off again, headfirst
and arms flailing. Why canít she just think for once before she acts?
What?
What is going on?
This isnít good.
I donít really understand whatís going on, but I know that we
have a problem on our hands. First Jupiter runs off to fight, and now
her attacks arenít working well enough to keepó
run jump dodge fire jump jump duck duck keep down down oh my
heart my heart I think Iím going to no must keep moving jump FIRE
dodge duck FIRE jump FIRE stop it I canít take this please someone
help me donít let me fight this all by myself...
I didnít think it would be like this...I mean, most of your ba-
sic youma are the kind that can be toasted with a minimum of effort
and a maximum of corny speech making.
Theyíre beating us out here.
Thatís not supposed to happenóat least, I donít think soó
Iím trying, Iím trying, Iím trying, Iím trying...
Leave me alone and let me concentrate! Shut up, youíre driving
me mad!
Wait, what is that? No, thatís not right.
Stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid...I canít do anything right...
I want to go home. I want to go home. I donít want to be here.
I donít want to fight. I donít want to get hurt. I donít want anyone
else to get hurt.
But in my heart I know itís too late.
Use all of my power to fry this freak...I hope Iím doing the
right thing.
What am I saying?
I know Iím doing the right thing.
Jupiter, why do you have that look in your eyes?
Iíve never seen you look like that, never. Itís not anger, itís
not fear, itís not anything Iíve ever seen.
I donít even know if itís human.
She canít be trying that. I forbid it. I wonít let her. She
canít do that.
I could tell her to stop, make it an order, but for some reason
I donít think she would. No, I take it back. Sheíd look at me,
smile, and do it anyway.
Is that why I didnít tell her to stop?
This is it. Iím not turning back. This is for all of us: my
parents, my friends, my senshi, my life, my powers, and my hope.
Our future...
Let the voltage begin...
NOOOOOOOO!
Stop!
You canít!
Please, oh please...no...please...
That hurt but I canít feel my arms my legs theyíre not there it
doesnít make sense I feel my head because of the pain but nothing else
is there Iím sorry my sisters my friends Mommy I canít Daddy please
sempai tell me why it hurts Iím cold can I go in let me help Iím very
sorry whereó
Weíre not supposed to die. Isnít that some kind of lawówe canít
die unless we have permission from our doctor or our parents or our
gym coach or something like that?
I guess I should pinch myself but whatíll happen if the pinch
doesnít wake me up?
Iíd go insane.
......
Sheís not dead. She canít be dead. We were supposed to stay
after for detention tomorrow because Haruna-sensei caught us talking
about her hideous new hairstyle in the hall yesterday. She promised
to bring in a ton of food so we wouldnít starve after school.
Sheís not dead.
Sheís not dead. She canít be dead. Our book reports are due on
Friday. She has to turn it in or sheíll fail Literature class. I saw
her slaving over it two nights ago when I stopped by her apartment.
She needs to turn it in to keep her grades up.
Sheís not dead.
Why does it feel like a piece of me is gone?
One of my best friends has just died to save me. To save me, a
girl who every one thinks is lazy and sloppy and stupid and a complete
klutz. I know that Iím supposed to be different, special in some way,
but some stupid destiny has just cost the life of an actual person.
Iím not worth it.
Nothing is worth it.
......
This wasnít in the brochure.
No one ever mentioned this.
Itís happening again. We went through this once beforeóa long
time ago. Itís not the first time weíve died.
And I know it wonít be the last.
......